Experiments in Everyday Fitness

I’ve noticed that when I pack my running gear for a long trip, it rarely makes it out of the bag.

This holiday I was determined to do better. Motivated by the sunshine and free, readily available babysitting, Kyle and I went on a Christmas Eve trail run in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

With an elevation of over 5300 feet, the air was noticeably thinner and we got winded quickly. Running uphill to start didn’t help us either.

Even still, I had the feeling that there was no place else in the world I’d rather be. We only had time to cover 3 miles, but I yearned to do more.

The holiday season can be overwhelmingly stressful dealing with travel, unexpected weather and family. At least once per holiday visit I wonder to myself, “Who are these people?”

Today was a great reminder of the importance of taking time out for myself and connecting with some quiet things that make me happy. Today it was sunshine and running.

Merry Christmas!

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About Andrea Hickerson

Andrea Hickerson: is an Assistant Professor of Journalism in the Department of Communication at RIT. She lives in Pittsford with her husband and two young sons. Andrea has never won a race and probably never will, but she loves to run, especially on trails. She has run four marathons and recently began racing ultras.